Witnessed by: Western
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), of the Ericaceae family. Low deciduous shrub bearing solitary blue-black berries; native range: heaths, moors and mountain woods of Europe and northern Asia. Globally recognized as whortleberry; blaeberry; European blueberry; huckleberry in English. The part used is ripe fruit (and, secondarily, leaf). Sweet-tart, richly staining purple berries; the leaf bitter and astringent.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
BILBERRY
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- bilberry
- Scientific name
- Vaccinium myrtillus L.
- Family
- Ericaceae
Form
- Part used
- ripe fruit (and, secondarily, leaf)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- sour · sweet · astringent
Temperature
- Western
- cool, drying
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- blood · circulation · bowels · nerves
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- vascular protective, antioxidant, astringent, anti-inflammatory, mild hypoglycaemic (leaf)
Cautions
Contraindications: prolonged high-dose use of the leaf is not advised
Toxicity: the fruit is essentially non-toxic; chronic high leaf doses may be harmful
Interactions
- Western
- antidiabetic agents: leaf may add to blood-glucose lowering · antiplatelet agents: anthocyanins may mildly reduce platelet aggregation
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